SANDAKAN DEATH MARCHES
The Sandakan-Ranau death marches
What are the Death Marches?
Try to imagine this. It is late May 1945. Clad only in ragged loin-cloths, over
500 skeletal creatures, barely recognisable as human, struggle to their feet at
the Sandakan POW Compound, on Sabah’s north-east coast. Three long years
in captivity, half of them on starvation rations and with little or no medical
attention, have taken their toll. The grimy, wasted bodies of these once fit and
strapping Australian and British servicemen are covered in sores and scabies,
their filthy hair and beards matted and lice-infested. Many are suffering from
tropical ulcers, some so large that shin bones are clearly visible. Others,
bloated from beriberi, lumber along on sausage-like legs. They are bound for
Ranau, a small village on the flanks of Mt Kinabalu, South East Asia’s highest
peak, situated 250 kilometres away to the west, in the rugged Borneo jungle
interio
Who were they?
All were members of an Allied contingent, originally numbering 2,700,
transferred to Sandakan by the Japanese in 1942-43, following Singapore’s fall.
Their task? To construct a military airfield, using not much more than their
bare hands.
For the first twelve months or so, conditions at Sandakan were tolerable.
However, in mid 1943 the Japanese discovered that the POWs not only had a
radio but were in league with a local resistance organisation. The kempei-tai,
or secret police, swooped. Arrests and transfers followed. Discipline at
Sandakan was tightened considerably and life became much more difficult for
the remaining 2,434 prisoners.
Why were they marching to Ranau?
As the war ground on, conditions deteriorated. In late January 1945 the
Japanese decided to move 455 of the fittest prisoners to Jesselton (Kota
Kinabalu) to act as coolie labourers – only to halt them at Ranau, owing to
Allied air activity on the west coast. At the end of May, there was a second
march from Sandakan and in mid-June a third, comprised of about 65 men.
As both sea and air were under the complete control of the Allies, a track had
been cut through the mountains, linking existing bridle-trails. Unaware that it
was to be used by POWs, the local headmen given the task of creating this
track had deliberately routed it away from any habitation, across the most
inhospitable and difficult terrain possible. There was no medical assistance
and little food. Anyone, including Japanese soldiers, who could not keep up
was ‘disposed of’. Despite this, about half the prisoners completed the march,
only to die at Ranau from illness, malnutrition and ill-treatment by their
captors. Two Australians managed to escape in the early stages of the second
march with the help of villagers, and four more successfully escaped from
Ranau into the jungle, where they were cared for by local people.
What happened to the rest of Sandakan’s prisoners?
Back at Sandakan, 200 prisoners unable undertake the second and third
marches also died, bringing the death toll there to about 1400. Of the 1000-odd
prisoners who left on the death marches, about half died in the attempt. The
rest died at their destination. The story of Sandakan and the death marches is
one of the most tragic of World War Two. It is also one of the most heroic.
Despite appalling conditions, the prisoners never gave up. Their heroism, their
determination and their indomitable spirit are testimony to the strength of the
human spirit and an inspiration to all. Of the 2434 prisoners incarcerated at
Sandakan, 1787 were Australian. The remaining 641 were British. The six
Australians who escaped were the sole survivors.
For the full story, read Sandakan A Conspiracy of Silence, and Blood
Brothers.
You can gain some insight into the heroism of the prisoners who died at
Sandakan or who marched to Ranau, by joining a trek. To follow in their
footsteps, go to www.sandakandeathmarch.com
KAWAT MAUT SANDAKAN
(DEATH MARCHES SANDAKAN)
Kawat Maut Sandakan adalah kejadian paling buruk diketahui
dalam siri kejadian yang mengakibatkan kematian sehingga
6,000 orang awam hamba kerahan Indonesia dan tahanan
perang pihak Berikat, yang ditahan oleh Empayar Jepun semasa
Perang Pasifik semasa Perang Dunia II, di kem penjara di Borneo
Utara. Dari keseluruhan tahanan yang ditawan di kem tersebut
semasa perbarisan, hanya 6 yang diketahui terselamat selepas
perperangan.
Pada 1942, orang awam Indonesia, diimport dari pulau Jawa,
bersama tahanan perang Australia dan British, yang telah ditahan
semasa kejatuhan Singapura, dihantar melalui kapal ke Borneo
Utara, untuk membina padang terbang di Sandakan. Seperti
pada landasan kereta api Burma, tahanan dipaksa bekerja keras
dengan diacukan senapang kepada mereka, sering dipukul dan
tidak menerima makanan serta ubatan yang cukup. Mereka terus
ditahan walaupun kerja pembinaan telah siap. Ramai yang mati.
Pada awal 1945, apabila Pihak Berikat makin hampir, komandan
kem Kapten Susumi Hoshijima memutuskan untuk memindahkan
baki tahanan ke pedalaman di Ranau, kira-kira 250 kilometer (160
batu).
Tahanan Australia dan Indonesia ini telah dikerah oleh tentera
Jepun untuk berjalan dari Sandakan di pantai timur ke Kota
Kinabalu di pantai barat. Dalam perjalanan tersebut, lebih 1000
orang telah maut akibat keletihan, kebuluran dan penyakit.
Sebagai memperingati peristiwa ini, kerajaan Australia telah
mendirikan Tugu Peringatan perang bertempat di Kundasang
Ranau.
